Abstract: A closed tunnel system for distilling fresh water from ocean salt water is provided with an elongated evaporation plate adapted to hold ocean water for evaporation therefrom. During the distillation process, a vacuum is drawn in the tunnel, and sunlight is focused onto the evaporation plate with a concave lens-structure roof. External concave mirrors automatically track the sun and focus additional sunlight onto the lens-structure roof. An agitator-wiper unit agitates the ocean water on the evaporation plate to maintain a homogeneous liquid mixture, and to present additional water surface area for evaporation of fresh water. The fresh water vapor then condenses under pressure in heat exchangers that simultaneously pre-heat the ocean water prior to entry onto the evaporation plate.

Abstract: Relative coarse flakes fabricated from used and manufacturing scrap asphalt shingle material are finish processed into ground cover and/or erosion control products. Processing of the flakes include (i) softening the surface of the flakes, (ii) embedding a surface treatment material into the softened surface of the flakes, and either (iii) supplying the flake as loose ground cover, or (iv) compressing the flakes into a portable mat.

Abstract: A stairwell cover adapted to seal a stairwell opening such as between a first floor living space and a basement when the basement is not in use includes a housing mounted to a wall partition above the base of the stairs, a retractable cover rotatably mounted in the housing, and a pair of roller rails extending along the sidewalls of the stairwell and along which the cover rolls for movement between an retracted position providing open access to the basement and an extended position closing off the basement at the top of the stairwell.

Abstract: A modular green roof system includes modular panels (10) providing a surrounded space suitable for supporting live plant growth and adapted for installing onto a roof deck in side-by-side positioning while allowing water flow on the roof thereunder. The panels are installed with growing medium and greenery, and are releasably connected with an edge finishing/edge termination system (46) and support structure to enable provision of non-panel areas of the green roof, support of the panels, and above-panel structures. The panels are releasably connected in a non-progressive manner that permits removal of a surrounded panel without disturbing the adjacent panels. The panels are further adapted to be pre-seeded prior to delivery to the roof site, and delivered in either a preserved condition or a germinated condition.

Abstract: Used and manufacturing scrap asphalt shingle material is processed into a relatively coarse material comprising pieces or flakes of a maximum predetermined size. The flakes are finish processed into a composite board product in a method that includes (i) mixing the flakes with a relatively high percentage content of solvent suffused fiber, (ii) grinding and heating the flakes and fiber to form a homogenous semi-liquid mixture, (iii) extruding and conveying the homogenous mixture to a board forming station, and (iv) compressing the mixture into the composite board product.

Abstract: A press for removing grease from cooked ground meat includes a main body provided with an upwardly opening cavity for receiving the cooked meat and a front spout, and a lid pivotally connected to the body and provided with a center pressing plate sized to fit into the cavity against the meat. The body and lid are further provided with complimentary left and right handles sized to be squeezed together with the user's left and right hands. Excess grease is pressed out of and removed from the meat by simultaneously squeezing the handles together and pouring the grease from the spout.

Abstract: A roll-type straightening and feed mechanism includes opposing sets of straightening rolls adapted to straighten coil stock as it travels therebetween, opposing feed rolls adapted to grip the coil stock therebetween to advance the straightened coil stock to a using station, and operators connected to simultaneously separate the straightening rolls and the feed rolls and release the coil stock therebetween, and to simultaneously reset the straightening rolls and the feed roll and re-grip the coil stock for advancing straightened stock.

Abstract: A self-service car wash provided with coin-operated time-controlled wash and rinse spray capability includes an integrated exit air drying apparatus controlled by the coin-operated controller.

Abstract: A reel for coiled strip stock includes a coil support adapted to carry a coil of strip stock for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a pair of pivotally mounted stock guides that establish a variable-sized loop of stock substantially encircling the coil support between payoff from the coil and exiting to the using station.

Abstract: A headband sized to wrap around a user's forehead and extend past the user's ears to prevent the dripping of hair treatments into a user's face and eyes. The headband includes a base band, a resilient seal band extending upwardly and inwardly from the base band, and a channel extending therebetween along the base band such that conditioner dripping down toward the user's forehead will flow across the seal band and into the channel whereupon the liquid will exit the channel behind the user's ears.

Abstract: A flying insect trap includes an insect attracting light located in a generally translucent cover, an axial flow fan to draw the insects into the cover and to force the flying insects onto a sticky, disposable slid-in tray as the air flow impinges thereon prior to exiting laterally through exhaust ports.

Abstract: A self-service car wash provided with coin-operated time-controlled wash and rinse spray capability includes an integrated manually operable, air drying spray nozzle and associated pressurized air supply controlled by the coin-operated controller.